By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently hosted a five-day workshop in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that focused on building capacity in African rules of origin.
The workshop, which began on November 28, 2024, brought together representatives from nearly 26 countries to enhance their understanding of rules of origin and facilitate intra-African trade.
According to Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Caroline Niagwan, the WCO and JICA have formed an alliance to provide technical assistance and training initiatives to support Customs officers across Africa.
Niagwan emphasized that the EU-WCO Rules of Origin for Africa Programme aims to boost intra-African trade by enhancing the capacity of African countries to implement and apply rules of origin.
Faith Mathenge, a Rules of Origin expert and facilitator for the EU-WCO Rules of Origin for Africa Programme, reiterated the importance of capacity building in rules of origin for facilitating trade.
Mathenge commended Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for prioritising capacity building, stating, “I must commend the CGC for prioritising capacity building, which is the bedrock that will enable his officers to implement procedures that facilitate trade and enhance compliance.”
The workshop portrayed the significance of collaboration in fostering intra-African trade and strengthening the role of customs officers in implementing rules of origin effectively.
This initiative is part of the WCO’s broader efforts to enhance customs capacity building in Africa, including the WCO/JICA Joint Project, which has supported customs administrations in East, Southern, and West Africa since 2015.